I thank those of you whom have email me for prayer request. I have responded to each one as well as continue prayer.
I am back!
I have restarted the youth outreach Bible ministry in Chicago Heights, Illinois whereby I reside. The ministry has been growing. To my surprise, more male youth have been attending recently. I do not know if it is due to the few teenage females in the group. Because my organization – OverComers-SAFE Haven Ministries has no funding, and I take care of my very sick quadriplegic father and disabled twin brother. I have the sessions at our home.
Now, the program is growing so fast that I have been praying for donations, so I can pay to rent a building space in the community. I want to go forward with other outreach programs for our at-risk and high-risk youth. I have been dormant since 2001, so it is time for me to do what God has chosen and anointed me to do.
Yes. I could partner with other organizations in the community. I choose not to partner with other organizations in the community from experience. I had learned that it was more about the organization’s politics and protocols than the people that these heavily funding organizations are to serve. Therefore, I just do not do it. I only care about doing God’s work – that’s it. Funding is very competitive and very political. It is always about whom you know. Besides, I love it when God does His thing through faith! This is when I know that God is in control, so it is all good – harder – but all good.
As far as the weekly youth outreach bible sessions, I think that I had been a little too harsh in my teaching of obedience to God. My reason was for the youth to become more obedient and to honor their parents.
I am teaching them to control their tongues. I am teaching them discipline. I am teaching them not to let folks stressed them out. I am teaching them how to view things from their parents without being rebellious. I am teaching them that they will always have someone whom may have authority over them, so they must learn how to respect authority. I teach them to respect property and their neighbors too, so I teach, and I teach. I teach using the Word of God – The Holy Bible.
I do not want these youth “playing church” like most adults in the church. I want them to take their Salvation seriously. I do not want them to become religious. I want them to appreciate their new relationship with our God, Lord, and Savior. I teach them that once they accept Salvation that they are in a covenant relationship with God, Our Lord, and Savior.
Many of the youth are afraid of receiving Salvation because they want to be “right.” Most youth are committing fornication, swearing, and doing other ugly-youth-behavior things common at their age. However, they are at the age of discovering their purpose for living too. Therefore, this is the time – cross roads – to provide to them Christian morals, understanding, respect, values, and nurturing. This is the time to “plant” or “water.”
In our youth discussions, I am amazed to how most have been “condition” in their spiritual (not religious) beliefs. Even more, it amazes me of the churches they have visited, and their perception of Biblical teachings.
These churches have left many of them more confused about Salvation and God. Most think there is a God, but they are not certain. I can understand it from a human standard especially with so many different Christian doctrines being taught.
Do you know that many would rather continue in their “fun” behaviors than to receive Salvation at their current state of behaviors? Gosh! I am praying on this one. I have to be honest with them, for I am held accountable for each soul – each life, so I take teaching the Word of God seriously. I pray for each youth and person that I have meet. Those of you who write for prayer, I respond. I am here for you.
With my youth last week, we had some heated discussions about teen homosexuals, teen suicide, the 144,000, obedience, forgiveness, and Salvation. I took them to the Word of God. In fact, I teach them to “ask” and “hear” God for themselves.
For the next several weeks, I will explain each of these topics as well as discuss them on the online radio show beginning November 5, 2011 at 10:00 p.m.
I will be teaching on suicide, for I have survived suicide twice and I am a Christian. I understand the human struggle. Two of the youth in the group were struggling with suicide thoughts. I praise God that they no longer struggle with these thoughts.
However, many believe that God will not forgive those who commit suicide because of what their parents, churches, and others have taught them. This is not true, so I will have prayer for those who are struggling with thoughts of suicide, and I will provide counseling too on BlogTalk Radio on November 5, 2011 at 10:00 p.m.
Stay tune
Love Ya!